Hosting - a serious question about policy

[jscott]

I bought tube sites in January, the owner assured me he prepaid hosting until November 2015 so he said I can leave them on his host until then.

Comes to find out, the sites all offline, I contacted his host, and they said he hasnt paid hosting since March this year. And the ONLY way I can get my site contents/data/etc is if I pay his hosting of 3 months.

I have pleaded with them, showed them all proof of chat, domain ownership, and even offered to show proof of financial transactions to let me get my site content.

They said absolutely not.

Hosting companies, what is your policy on this? This seems very unfair. I can prove ownership and even offered to pay a month of hosting just to allow me to turn on the hosting to get my sites back.

Thoughts please?

Thank you

[k0nr4d]

Well, the agreement for the hosting was with the previous owner of the site, but all the same they just want their money and the only collateral they have are those files... I would say just pay it, get the sites back up as that's most important, move them immediately... and in future, do your due diligence and verify with the host the balance of account or get him to transfer the hosting account.

[TCLGirls]

It's like you bought a car that is parked in a private garage. The previous owner of the car owes late parking fees to the garage. The garage isn;t going to just let you take the car simply because you bought it. They are going to require that someone pays the back fees before they will release the car.

[michal]

ex owner is an asshole

host just want to get the money for the service they already provided

[jscott]

I agree, the ex owner screwed the host, and screwed me.

But, if leave as is, host doesn't get a cent, and me, don't get my sites.

I have offered $50, and even offered to pay a month of the hosting. Or any type of side deal where they can just zip and upload the site to me.

Do you guys think there is any way, angle, i can go about this? I have a backup of 1 of the sites (thank GAWD!) but it's from February, so i'm lucky to have that I guess, but still 4 months of work, daily updates, content uploads, translations to other languages, etc are all wasted if can't get it back from the host.

frustrating omg!

[michal]

he screwed only you cuz he lied

the only way is to pay the host i guess

now you know that you have to verify every word when you deal with someone you dont know.

the guy is dissapeared? ruin his reputation if he has any.

[Captain Kawaii]

Post at webhostingtalk. Maybe someone there can offer a solution?

[jscott]

Yes he disappeared totally.

And yes, big lesson learned here. If ever a situation like this happens again I'll surely find out the dealy with hosting, or all details included OR will move shit to my own host asap.

Btw, i do have our saved conversations about hosting, his own words were: "I've got that dedicated server for another 9 months at least so you can change the passwords and carry on hosting xxxxxxxxxxxxx.com there"

I am hoping to deal with this diplomatically first, really trying and waiting patiently. If worse case scenario I'll name names, not that it matters anymore. Everyone (a lot, not all, still a few good ppls in this biz) pulls this kind of shit nowdays.

[RummyBoy]

Originally Posted by jscott

I agree, the ex owner screwed the host, and screwed me.

But, if leave as is, host doesn't get a cent, and me, don't get my sites.

He only screwed you because if the host doesn't get a cent, the sites wont get a cent of hosting. If you pay the host, they get their money and will provide the service. In the latter scenario, the only loser is you.

Remember, it's what someone does that matters not what someone says.

[jscott]

Thanks CK, actually I will do that :

[michal]

good luck, jscott

[CPA-Rush]

low life

[Barry-xlovecam]

Offer to prepay the hosting for 12 months if the host forgives the previous owner's account debt -- maybe they will go for that. Or, just pay the arrears and move the host if you want the files. Right now, they have nothing -- you are the legal owner of the material so what is there is worthless to them and worthless to you if you cannot access or use it

Caveat Emptor

[Adraco]

I do not understand why it matter what the seller said, he lied, you did not check into it. Your fault.

The host provides a service, one which is in the majority of all cases paid up front. Someone, regardless of whom, did not pay for the time from March but sites apparently stayed online anyways?! Nice of the host to leve them up. You used the sites and, hopefully, earned from them during that time. Now man up and pay for services provided to you.

It is not the fault of the host that you got scammed. They do not owe you anything. Otherwise that would be the best trick ever, erveryone start "selling" sites to each other and always "show chat proof" that some random guy "promised" hosting was paid for nine more months.

I know it sucks, but clearly you must hear how ridiculous it sounds yourself?!
Why would or should the host work to compensate you? They are losing twice already, both a customer and for a few months of service.

If you want and value the sites, pay for the services YOU have used and profited from. Get the server back up and move the sites.

Pay the host, they have done nothing wrong!

[ErectMedia]

Seller was a cock sucking liar. Showing emails to the host just shows you got fucked as well as them. They could release the sites based on sympathy of poor guy got fucked like us but if they release the files then they know original guy fucked them and if you get the files than nobody else will want them. So you're their only hope of getting paid. Guess the lesson is don't wait 6 months to move sites ya buy based on a 11 month hosting promise, move em quicker or log in and back everything up at least in case the 11 months turns into 6 months.

[Va2k]

Listen, if you can afford it and the sites will make you money, then pay it off and get to work. I understand why the hosting company would do this now that I own and run my own hosting company. I might of done it a different way but who knows.

Try and make a deal if you can not afford the bill. Don't talk with just anyone, go find the ceo, the owners the higher up's and talk to them. If they are decent they will or should work with you. Remember you can NOT be mad at the host, it was NOT their fault that you got screwed.

TOM

PS. also it is NOT unfair. put yourself in their shoes, really man put yourself in their place. They are a business that needs to make money and without money bills aren't paid people aren't paid etc. If they started doing this for everyone they would lose a lot of money. I mean anyone could fake sell a company and have all the right paper work.

Next time before you buy anything like a network or sites, find out if they have the latest backups of the sites. If they don't that should tell you something right there.

Good luck

[dirtymind]

It is quite normal for a host to say now, however after showing proof and willing to pay for just one month and the server and the content is still online, we would certainly give you access for a month hosting.

But some hosting company have one guide line and stick to it no matter what. It is getting more tricky with increasing number of clients. You have to draw the line somewhere.

[lock]

He likely lied about a lot more things. Don't pay you will only find out all the content is also stolen. Redirect the domain to you last project. He probably lied about the traffic too. Basically everything will be a lie. Just make most of the domain as is......

[jscott]

Thanks guys, and i'm sorry if sounded like i'm blaming the host...... i actually dont blame them.

I blame
#1 myself for not being careful enough (sometimes we let our guard down and this was one of those times)

#2 the previous owner for straight up lying to me about prepaying the host.... really put me in a bad situation

and there is no #3 (host not at fault), i actually mean, it would only help both of our situation (me and host) if they were able to bend their rules for this one time. But i do agree, somtimes have to draw a line, and they are a really big host i think (mostly mainstream stuff) so i guess is not worth it to them.

Still trying to work with their rep, but he quit replying.

Sure, lesson learned again.

Lock, i had full control of the traffic and stats though, so all of that info was in fact true.
cpa-rush, this guy was really good webmaster for like a decade, i think not lowlife, but def liar and neglect'er
dirtymind/va2k/erectmedia/adraco, yes i am learning my lesson, but also cannot blame me for trying to salvage what i can from the host, and pressure them.... i think anyone in this current situation would do the same. (i wont bad mouth them, talk negative etc, i wil just basically offer what i can, and put a mild beg on them lol)

Anyways, thanks a lot for your guys input.

[Adraco]

Jscott, you are a good man!
Our dealing and chat have always been fair and courteous. You have my utmost respect in this business.

I still do not see in this case though why the host should lower their demands.

You used their services from March and onwards.

No one paid for that time, yet they were nice enough to let it continue.

Why, give just one reason, as to why they should let you get away with not paying for the services you have used?

Your argument "better a little than nothing at all" is weak. If they are fairly big, then settling for say $150 on a $600 bill (25% of whatever) or around that sum, is not worth it to a company above a certain size. They'd rather take the chance of perhaps getting the $600 or nothing at all. $150 is to little to make a difference, plus it sets an example.

If the sites hold value, which I belive, I rarely see you buying bad stuff, man up and bite the sour apple and pay the host. After all, you have used their services, haven't you?

[Choopa Phil]

Your first mistake was not following up with the host before having the asset transferred over in your name. Second, the host knows there is important information on those servers that you need. For all they know, you could be the old "owner" posing as someone else (essentially trying to get your machines back for a fraction of the cost). You have to look at it from their prospective, they are simply protecting themselves.

[baddog]

Personally, I would be surprised if the host still has your data. If someone stopped paying after 2 months that hardware would have been wiped and re-sold.

[Choopa Phil]

Originally Posted by baddog

Personally, I would be surprised if the host still has your data. If someone stopped paying after 2 months that hardware would have been wiped and re-sold.

You'd be surprised how many come back to their equipment after being overdue.

[baddog]

Originally Posted by Choopa Phil

You'd be surprised how many come back to their equipment after being overdue.

Overdue is one thing; two months is abandonment.

[Choopa Phil]

Originally Posted by baddog

Overdue is one thing; two months is abandonment.

I agree with you there but it doesn't cost a thing to leave a couple of old machines in the rack with them powered down. If it gives you a slight chance of collecting an overdue balance then why not?

[suesheboy]

Originally Posted by k0nr4d

Well, the agreement for the hosting was with the previous owner of the site, but all the same they just want their money and the only collateral they have are those files... I would say just pay it, get the sites back up as that's most important, move them immediately... and in future, do your due diligence and verify with the host the balance of account or get him to transfer the hosting account.

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[DVTimes]

Hope you get it sorted.

But like they say pay the bill.

[signupdamnit]

In my view the webhost has no moral or legal obligation to you. However I would go after the old owner more. Warn them that you are only going to wait 72 hours or so and that at the very least you are considering contacting the authorities in their local jurisdiction for possible fraud case. I know here in Florida misrepresenting something like this in writing can easily be seen as fraud. Also warn that you are considering other legal action. Offer a payment plan maybe. Then here is the key, FOLLOW THROUGH! At the very least make an effort to track them down and contact the local sheriff or whatever other authority there is. There is a very good chance that authority will contact them in some way and that will probably be enough to make them shit their pants. The same for contact from your attorney. Then you will probably get your money.